Tuesday, May 02, 2006

GAC releases names of those laid offdeparted May 1; others set for October 1by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE — General Assembly Council Executive Director John Detterick today (May 2) formally released the names of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) national staff employees who have lost their jobs in the “reduction in force” needed to reduce the 2007-2008 General Assembly mission budget by $9.15 million.Seventy-five employees lost their jobs May 1, the largest single layoff at the Presbyterian Center since 1993, when 140 jobs were eliminated.Fifty-nine staff members concluded their service immediately. Sixteen others received notice that their jobs will end October 1, when the transition to a radically new organizational structure in Louisville will be complete.Prior to the layoffs there were 532 persons on the national staff and 27 vacant positions. In addition to the 75 layoffs, nine vacant positions were also eliminated, reducing the staff to 430 with 18 vacant positions. Fifteen new jobs will added during the transition, bringing the total staff to between 463 and 468.Detterick announced the positions that were eliminated Monday, but delayed releasing the names of persons in those positions “in order to give them time to tell their families and friends before they read about it in the press.”

callie, in case you didn't notice, the upper management lost their jobs. The directors of every division (ie most of the GAC) suggested that their own jobs be eliminated.

I don't want to be snotty, but as a PCUSA missionary in the middle east I want to ask you if you know anything about Sabeel and the work it's doing? Do you know what the word "sabeel" means? look into it.

These people were informed they were laid off BY AN ENVELOPE ON THEIR CHAIR when they came in on Monday morning. Maybe some compassion is in order. And don't forget the part where the lack of unrestricted giving also means that 50 missionaries around the world are not being renewed at the end of their terms this year.

There is incredible sadness and loss, and a huge amount of wondering where the resources, both human and monetary, are going to come from to continue the mission of Christ both at home and in the world. What are you doing to help?

All of this amid the ordination fevor...there are far more important services that we could support if we did not in fight the way we do. To lose the WMD is tragic! I echo, What will we do? How shall we serve? How do we pick up where our brothers and sisters left off? What are we willing to sacrifice? Do we serve the church as good stewards? I am convicted in these statements as I am not...I pray I will be part of the solution and not the problem.